First National Environmental Health Survey of Child Care Centers: Lead Results

Presenter: Warren Friedman, Ph.D., CIH;at CDC ACCLPP meeting March 23, 2004.

Research Team: J.Y. Zhou1, W. Friedman1, D.E. Jacobs1, N.S. Tulve2, P.A. Jones2, C.W. Croghan2, C.J. Cave3, J. Rogers4,

S.M. Viet4, D. Marker4, A. Fraser4

1HUD, 2EPA, 3CPSC, 4Westat

Survey Rationale and Target Population

• Survey was recommended in 2000 Federal Strategy

• 100,000 institutional (licensed) child care centers in continental US serving children under 6 years

• 4.6 million children under 6 years in those child care centers

Survey Sample

• Nationally (CONUS) representative sample• Random population-weighted selection from 30

primary sampling units (Metropolitan Statistical Areas or portions, or non-metropolitan groups of counties)

• Appx. 11 institutional (state-licensed) centers/PSU; of 334 sampled centers, 68 were not eligible for the survey

• Of 266 eligible centers remaining, 168 (63%) agreed to participate and completed the survey

Questionnaire, Sampling and Analysis

• Center Director (usually) recruited by and answered survey questions asked by CPSC staff

• Two classrooms, 1 multi-purpose room, exterior bare soil; randomly selected

• Paint tested by XRF; dust and soil samples collected

• Samples analyzed for lead, selected allergens and selected pesticide residues

Lead Measurements

• Paint (XRF measurement)• Painted building components,

bookshelves and cabinets in sampled rooms

• Exterior painted components, including play equipment

• Dust Wipe: Floor and window sill in sampled rooms

• Soil: Composite soil core in play area

Data Limitations

• Classification may be biased from:• Sampling and measurement variation• Incomplete sampling of rooms

resulting in missing a room with a LBP hazard

• Comparison with National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (HUD and NIEHS, 1999-2000) indicates bias is small

Significant LBP Hazard per HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule

• Significant deterioration of LBPLarge surfaces: 2 ft2 interior, or 20 ft2 exterior;Small surfaces: 10% total area of a component type

• Lead-contaminated dust40 μg/ft2 on floor; or

250 μg/ ft2 on window sill

• Bare, lead-contaminated soil400 μg/g in play area; or

1200 μg/g in > 9 ft2 of bare soil in rest of yard

Results: Significant LBP Hazards

• Of 100,000 institutional child care centers nationally:

• 14% (9% to 22%) have significant LBP hazards

Factors Related to Significant LBP Hazards

• p < 0.05:• Construction Year: Centers in older buildings

more likely• Race: Centers where majority of children are

African-American as reported by Center Director more likely than those where majority of children are white

• 0.05 < p < 0.10:• Region: Northeast/Midwest somewhat more

likely than South/West

• Note: No urban/rural difference (both 14%)

Number of Centers with Significant LBP Hazards

Paint: 11,409

Dust: 2,829

Soil:1,002

99,952 Child Care Centers Nationally

Centers with Significant LBP Hazards by Construction Year

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

Unknown Before1960

1960-1977

1978-2001

Construction Year

Num

ber

of C

ente

rs PaintSoilDust

Results: Lead-Based Paint

• Of 100,000 institutional centers nationally:

• 28% (22% to 35%): some LBP

• 16% (10% to 24%): deteriorated LBP

• 11% (6% to 20%): significantly deteriorated LBP

Location of LBP

Interior: 20,503

Exterior: 19,780

99,952 Centers Nationally

Painted Components with LBP

• Components most likely to have LBP:

• Interior trim, Exterior surfaces

• Components with largest area of LBP:

• Interior walls, Exterior walls

• Components with highest lead loading:

• Doors, Walls, Windows, Trim

LBP Deterioration vs. Construction Year

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Unknown Before 1960 1960-1977 1978-2001

Construction Year

Nu

mb

er o

f C

ente

rs

Th

ou

sa

nd

s

Significantly Deteriorated LBPSlightly Deteriorated LBPUndamaged LBPNo LBP

Results: Dust Lead Loading

• In 100,000 centers nationally:• No floor samples had a dust lead

loading 40 μg/ft2

• Window sill dust lead loading is higher than floor lead loading

• 3% (1% to 7%) have window sill lead loading 250 μg/ft2

• Indicates a lead dust hazard in about 2,800 child care centers

Window Sill Dust Lead Loading by Construction Year

05

10152025303540

Unknown Before1960

1960-1977

1978-2001

Construction Year

Num

ber

of C

ente

rsT

hous

ands

>500250-500125 to 250RL to 125LOD to RL<LOD

Results: Play Area Soil Lead

• Of 100,000 institutional centers nationally:

• 4% (2 - 9%): no play area

• 23% (15 - 34%): no play area soil

• 38% (26 - 51%): no bare play area soil

• 33% (23 – 45%): bare play area soillead < 400 μg/g

• 1% (0 - 6%): soil lead hazards(bare play area soil lead > 400 μg/g)

Summary: First National Environmental Health Survey of Child Care Centers: Lead Results

• Survey of 168 institutional child care centers representing 100,000 centers nationally serving 4.6 M children < 6 yr old

• 28% have some LBP• 14% have a significant LBP hazard:

• 11% have significantly deteriorated LBP• 3% have a dust lead hazard• 1% have a soil lead hazard (and significantly deteriorated

LBP)• 0.3% have significantly deteriorated LBP and

a dust lead hazard